National Basketball Association

Stop denying that Artest is a stopper

Published Jun. 10, 2010 3:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

Ron Artest stood at a Finals podium for the first time in his life and couldn’t help but notice.

“I’m just like President Obama,’’ he said on the eve of the Finals.

After that comment caused some laughter and raised more than a few eyebrows, someone wanted the Lakers’ resident eccentric to explain himself.

“I’m standing at a podium,’’ he said. “And all that is missing is the presidential seal.’’

Now there’s a scary thought: A commander-in-chief named Ron Artest.

But even scarier for the Celtics is the fact that Artest has been the Secretary of Defense in these Finals. As the Lakers have taken a 2-1 lead, he’s shut down Paul Pierce, the 2008 Finals MVP. Shut him down as much as LeBron James did in the Boston-Cleveland series.

But can the guy get any credit for holding Pierce to 16 ppg on 36 percent shooting? Can one Celtic player or coach give Artest his due?

Of course not.

The Celtics would rather hold a parade for Kobe Bryant than admit that Artest is preventing Pierce from having the kind of series he did against Vladimir Radmanovic in ’08.

Doc Rivers won’t give Artest his due, and he’s wrong. His other top players -- Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett -- all have had stretches in the first three games when they were the best player on the court. For Rondo, it was late in Game 2 when the Celtics won in L.A. For Allen, it was in the first half of Game 2 when he set an NBA Finals record with seven 3-pointers. For Garnett, the moment came early in Game 3, when he attacked Pau Gasol and finally announced he had arrived at the Finals. Even Glen "Big Baby" Davis had himself a huge fourth quarter in Game 3.

But Pierce hasn’t been able to put his stamp on one game in this series yet.

You know why? Because No. 37 won’t let him.

Artest has had more to do with Pierce’s lackluster showing than any of the three guys assigned by the league to blow their whistles.

If you don’t believe that, you bleed Celtic green.

“Ron’s been very good on Paul, he’s done an excellent job,’’ said Artest’s teammate, Pau Gasol. “His size and his strength bothers Pierce and it has been bothering him so far. It’s a big factor to take Paul out of his game and to lower his scoring averages.’’

Rivers thinks the refs have been putting the clamps on his top scorer. He points to 14 fouls in three games as irrefutable evidence.

We beg to differ.

In Game 1, most of Pierce’s 24 points came long after the Lakers had already secured their win, and Pierce still played over 45 minutes, despite his five fouls. Then in Game 2, Artest forced Pierce into his worst shooting game of the series (2-for-11) and held him to only 10 points in 40 minutes.

After seeing Pierce limited to 15 points in the Celtics’ Game 3 defeat, in which he played only 34 minutes, Rivers said his star was “completely taken out of the game by the foul calls.’’

What about Artest’s nasty, physical defense?

“I’ll give Artest credit when he deserves it,’’ the Celtics coach said.

We’re still waiting. Uh, what’s up, Doc?

After checking the tape, Rivers didn’t change his mind on Wednesday.

When asked how much Artest was affecting Pierce, he said: “I don't think he is.’’

Really?

“I don’t,’’ Rivers continued. “I thought Paul is getting good shots, I think he's getting good shots. He's not making some of them. Maybe Ron has something to do with that.’’

He’s had a lot more to do with it than Rivers wants to let on, probably because Pierce’s plate is already full, trying to figure out the NBA’s top psycho. He doesn’t need his own coach announcing to the world that he can’t get Artest off his grill. That’s not exactly a confidence-booster.

"I don't really see anything he's doing special that any other teams haven't done throughout the course of the playoffs,'' Pierce said. "That's it.''

By dissing Artest’s effort, the Celtics aren't doing themselves any favors. They're only making Artest more committed to showing them why the Lakers decided after winning the title that they could afford to let Trevor Ariza walk and bring him in as their key free-agent signing.

You think Artest can’t wait to get back out on the parquet for Game 4? Check out these quotes, dripping with sarcasm, from his media session on Wednesday.

“Obviously, I’m not doing anything,’’ Artest said. “Obviously, I’m not playing any defense. Obviously, I’m not guarding anybody out there. I’m going to have to play better the next game. I’ve got to do a lot better.’’

He found himself standing at a podium again. It had no seal and it didn’t need one.

In these Finals, Ron Artest is the Secretary of Defense.

Read more of Mitch Lawrence's columns at the New York Daily News.